Games controller

ABSTRACT

A game controller for controlling electronic games comprising a controller chassis and an actuator system including: an actuator body pivotally mounted to the controller chassis; a strike plate coupled to the actuator body; a trigger adjustment system having an arm; and an actuator adjustment control screw received in a screw thread disposed within said arm. A portion of the actuator adjustment control screw may engage with a portion of the strike plate and said portion of the actuator adjustment control screw creates an end stop to limit movement of the actuator body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to controllers for controlling the play ofcomputerised games. More particularly, but not exclusively, theinvention relates to an actuator system of a game controller for agaming console.

BACKGROUND

There are many different types of gaming consoles currently availablefor operating a video game. For example, Microsoft®, Sony® and Nintendo®manufacture the Xbox®, Playstation® and WII® gaming consolesrespectively. The gaming consoles typically include a game controller sothat a user can control the operation of the video game.

Some known game controllers include a form of actuator system for theoperation of control of the functions of the video games. Actuators,buttons or other depressible or manually operable devices are typicallyused for controlling discrete actions such as the firing of a weapon oran attack command. It is known to provide a button or actuator which isintended to be operable by the index finger of a user; such buttons arecommonly known as triggers.

At times, dependent upon the video game being played, it can benecessary to depress the trigger a distance before the triggerinitiation point is reached and the command actually acknowledged. Thisrenders part of the depressing action futile. Likewise, after thecommand has been operated, it is often possible to carry out furtherdepression of the trigger past the trigger initiation point. Thisfurther depression is unnecessary and may also be disadvantageous.

Furthermore, in other situations in some video games, the strength of acommand is increased or decreased in dependence upon how frequently thetrigger is depressed. As such, depressing the trigger the whole distanceis unnecessary and excessive for the command or operation required.

It is desirable to have a controller, particularly for gamingapplications, that is more responsive or has less scope for allowingunnecessary over-movement by the user of the controller. Due to therapidly expanding gaming market and development of involved gamesinvoking considerable player input, it is desirable for players to beable to customise their controllers in order to gain increased controlin a variety of gaming circumstances.

The present invention seeks to improve upon or at least mitigate some ofthe problems associated with controllers of the prior art by providing agame controller which includes an adjustable trigger system that has amechanism to allow the end user to control or recalibrate the maximumand/or minimum trigger positions.

SUMMARY

There are a variety of different commands available for the triggerfunctions of a game controller and the adjustable trigger system of thepresent invention now provides the option to customise the triggersettings in order to suit the individual game at the time of operation.

In some embodiments the trigger system includes adjustments to thedepressible range of the trigger so that effectively the trigger isalready, to some degree, “depressed”, before any contact is actuallymade with the trigger by the operator (player).

In some embodiments the trigger system includes adjustments to theextent that the trigger is depressible such that no further motion canbe effected by the operator. This removes any unnecessary distancetravelled by the trigger.

The present invention provides a method of controlling both of the abovefeatures simultaneously regarding the amount of depression inflicted onthe trigger without contact, and the range of available motion to givethe optimum performance in any gaming circumstances.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatusfor supplying user inputs to a computer program, such as a game program,for controlling the game program, the apparatus comprising an outercase, at least one depressible trigger mechanism and having a mechanismfor manual adjustment of the range motion of the trigger mechanism, themechanism being disposed within an internal volume defined by an outercase of the apparatus.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided anapparatus for supplying user inputs to a computer program, such as agame program, for controlling the game program, the apparatus comprisingat least one depressible trigger mechanism and having a first mechanismfor adjustment of the stop position, of the trigger mechanism.

Optionally, the apparatus comprises a second mechanism for manualadjustment of the stop position of the trigger mechanism.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a gamecontroller for controlling electronic games, including a housing, atleast one depressible trigger at least in part exposed relative to thehousing, said at least one depressible trigger being in operationalassociation with electrical circuitry contained within the housing whichelectrical circuitry is controlled by depression of the or eachdepressible trigger for manipulating electrical outputs of the circuitryfor controlling electronic games and having a mechanism for manualadjustment, of the depressible range of the trigger mechanism.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided agame controller for controlling electronic games comprising:

-   -   a controller chassis and an actuator system including:        -   an actuator body pivotally mounted to the controller            chassis;        -   a strike plate coupled to the actuator body;        -   a trigger adjustment system having an arm;        -   an actuator adjustment control screw received in a screw            thread disposed within said arm;    -   wherein a portion of the actuator adjustment control screw        engages with a portion of the strike plate and said portion of        the actuator adjustment control screw creates an end stop to        limit the actuator movement.

Optionally, a portion of said arm forms a second end stop to limit theactuator movement.

Optionally, the game controller comprises an outer case defining a voidand wherein the trigger adjustment system is mounted within the void.

In some embodiments, the game controller comprises a removable coverpanel for accessing and adjusting the trigger adjustment system.

In some embodiments, the game controller comprises an aperture in theouter case for receiving an adjustment tool for adjusting the triggeradjustment system.

Optionally, the actuator system is a trigger button.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is providedan actuator adjustment system for adjusting the range of travel of anactuator in a game controller comprising:

-   -   a base plate for mounting the actuator adjustment system to a        controller body;    -   a riser coupled to the base plate;    -   an arm extending from the riser;    -   wherein the arm comprises a screw thread for receiving an        actuator adjustment control screw for adjusting the range of        travel of the actuator and a strike plate for arresting motion        of the actuator.

According to a still yet another aspect of the invention there isprovided a method of adjusting the range of movement of a button on agame controller for controlling electronic games comprising:

-   -   providing a game controller including:        -   a controller chassis;        -   a trigger body pivotally mounted to the controller chassis;        -   a strike plate coupled to the actuator body;        -   a trigger adjustment system having an arm;        -   an actuator adjustment control screw received in a screw            thread disposed within said arm; wherein a portion of the            trigger adjustment control screw engages with a portion of            the strike plate and said portion of the actuator adjustment            control screw creates an end stop to limit the actuator            movement;    -   rotating said trigger adjustment control screw to adjust the        position of the end stop.

Optionally, the game controller includes a removable cover panel, andthe method comprises:

-   -   removing the removable cover panel to gain access to the trigger        adjustment control screw.

Within the scope of this application it is envisaged and intended thatthe various aspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternativesset out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in thefollowing description and drawings may be taken independently or in anycombination thereof. For example, features described in connection withone embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless there isincompatibility of features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a controller for a games console;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the controller of FIG. 1 showing aremovable cover portion;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from below of a portion of the controllerof FIG. 1 in which the removable cover portion has been removed toexpose the trigger mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 5showing the range of motion of the trigger mechanism in an exemplaryimplementation of the use of the range of motion;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from below of a portion of the controllerof FIG. 1 in which the removable cover portion has been removed toexpose a trigger adjustment mechanism according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 9A is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism for adjustingtrigger travel motion;

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the mechanism for adjusting triggertravel motion;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 5including the mechanism for adjusting trigger travel motion wherein thetrigger body is illustrated in a first position;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism of FIG. 5including the mechanism for adjusting trigger travel motion wherein thetrigger body is illustrated in a second position; and

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a portion of the controller of FIG. 5including the removable cover portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the games controllerand its trigger mechanisms are disclosed herein. It will be understoodthat the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in whichcertain aspects of invention can be implemented and do not represent anexhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied.Indeed, it will be understood that the games controller and its triggermechanisms described herein may be embodied in various and alternativeforms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may beexaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components.Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarilydescribed in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the presentdisclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a controller 1 according to anembodiment of the invention. The controller 1 comprises a mechanism foradjusting trigger travel motion; both the start position and endposition of the trigger movement are adjusted by the mechanism.

The controller 1 comprises controls that are mounted on the front andtop of the controller 1. The controller 1 comprises a left analoguethumb stick 2 and a right analogue thumb stick 3. The left analoguethumb stick 2 and the right analogue thumb stick 3 normally controlmovement actions and are intended to be operated by the user's left andright thumbs respectively. The controller 1 comprises four buttons 4,located on a front-right portion of the controller 1, which normallycontrol additional actions and are intended to be operated by the user'sright thumb. The controller 1 comprises a direction pad 5 located on thelower portion of the front-left of the controller 1. The direction pad 5is intended to be operated by the user's left thumb, typically either asan alternative to the left thumb stick 2 or to provide additionalactions. The controller 1 also comprises a left trigger 6, a righttrigger 7, a left bumper 8 and a right bumper 9 located on the frontedge of the controller 1. The left and right triggers 6, 7 are typicallyoperated by a user's index or fore fingers. The left and right bumpers8, 9 may also be operated by a user's index or fore fingers.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the controller of FIG. 1. It can beseen that the left trigger 6 is mounted below the left bumper 8 and theright trigger 7 is mounted below the right bumper 9.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the controller 1 comprises a removablecover portion 10 which is detachably coupled to a base chassis member14. The base chassis member 14 is coupled to a top panel 12.

The base chassis member 14 and the top panel 12 define a void V in whicha printed circuit board (not shown) is located. The printed circuitboard comprises control electronics (not shown) to which the controls 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the controller 1 are coupled. An inner chassismember (not shown) is provided in the void; the printed circuit board isfixed to the inner chassis member.

The base chassis member 14 comprises a cutaway or recess 16 (see FIG. 4)disposed at a front edge thereof. The recess 16 is adjacent to, orfacing at least in part, a rear edge 17 of the left trigger 6. A fixingdevice 13, in the form of a screw, is disposed in the recess 16 andsecures the base chassis member 14 to the top panel 12. Preferably, theprinted circuit board and the inner chassis member are disposed betweenthe base chassis member 14 and the top panel 12 and are secured inposition by the fixing device 13. The fixing device 13 passes through anaperture or cutaway provided in the recess 16, through apertures in eachof the printed circuit board and the inner chassis member, and into aconcealed bore defined within the top panel 12 (that is to say, the boredoes not pass through the top panel 12).

A limb 18 extends from the rear of the left trigger 6 into the void Vbetween the base chassis member 14 and the top panel 12. The limb 18comprises a magnet 30 (see FIG. 6) attached thereto. The controller 1determines or senses the position of the magnet 30 relative to a sensor(not shown) provided on the printed circuit board (or in the void) todetermine the position or orientation, or to sense movement of, the lefttrigger body 6.

A front edge 15 of the base chassis member 14 defines an end stoplimiting the movement of the left trigger 6. The front edge 15 of thebase chassis member 14 may comprise a cushion member 60 to soften theimpact of the left trigger body 6 at the end stop. The left trigger 6 ispivotally or rotationally mounted to the inner chassis member or, inalternative embodiments, to the top panel 12. The left trigger 6 isresiliently biased to return to a start position.

FIG. 7 illustrates a typical use of the range of motion of the triggermechanism in a gaming application such as a combat style game. Thetrigger body 6 has a start position S. The trigger body 6 must be movedthrough a first zone D_(Z), a dead zone in which no commands areinitiated. Once the trigger body 6 reaches the position C_(I) a commandaction is initiated. The trigger body 6 then moves through an activeregion A_(R) in which the command actions are carried out. Once thetrigger body reaches the position C_(T), no further commands areinitiated. The trigger body 6 then enters an over-travel zone O_(T) inwhich no commands are initiated until the trigger body 6 reaches the endstop E at which point the movement of the trigger body 6 is arrested bythe front edge 15 of the base chassis member 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 11 there is shown a trigger adjustmentsystem 20 that has a mechanism to allow the end user to control orrecalibrate the range of motion of the trigger body of the left trigger6. It will be appreciated that the trigger body of the right trigger 7can be controlled or recalibrated by employing a system substantiallysimilar to that described in relation to the left trigger mechanism 6,albeit a mirror image thereof.

The trigger adjustment system 20 comprises a base plate 44 in which abore or aperture 46 is defined. The aperture 46 is configured to receivea fixing device 13 in the form of a screw or bolt. The triggeradjustment system 20 comprises a side wall or riser 48. The riser 48 andthe base plate 44 are configured to be received in the recess 16 definedin the base chassis member 14. The trigger adjustment system 20comprises an arm 50 which extends from the riser 48; preferably the arm50 extends from an upper end of the riser 48.

The arm 50 is arranged such that it extends between the rear edge 17 ofthe left trigger body 6 and the front edge 15 of the base chassis member14.

The arm 50 comprises an aperture 52 which defines a bore. Optionally,the bore comprises an internal screw thread for receiving a controlscrew 24, also referred to as a trigger adjustment control screw. Insome embodiments, control screw 24 takes the form of a grub screw, inthe other embodiments the control screw 24 comprises a head preventingthe entire control screw 24 from passing through the arm 50.

As shown in FIG. 10, the control screw 24 adjusts the start position ofthe trigger body 6 as indicated by direction narrow D1. The controlscrew 24 can be rotated to adjust the extent to which the control screw24 passes through the arm 50. The lower end of the control screw 24 isbrought into contact with the upper surface of the limb 18. As thecontrol screw 24 is tightened into the aperture 52 the left trigger 6 ispivoted about the pivot point 34 and is prevented from returning to thestart position shown in FIG. 6.

The arm 50 comprises a front edge 15A which provides an end stop for therange of motion of the left trigger 6. FIG. 10 illustrates the triggerbody 6 in a first position; the first position is an initial startposition in which the trigger body 6 is in an undepressed state. Theleft trigger 6 is resiliently biased by a bias mechanism such as aspring to return to the first position. The front edge 15A is disposedcloser to the rear edge 17 of the left trigger 6 than the front edge 15of the base chassis member 14. In this way the range of motion of thetrigger body 6 is reduced or shortened. In this way the triggeradjustment system 20 adjusts the extent to which the left trigger 6 canbe depressed by a user. Hence, the degree of rotation of the lefttrigger 6 about the pivot point 34 is restricted or reduced.

FIG. 11 illustrates the trigger body 6 in a second position; the secondposition is a terminal position in which the trigger body 6 is in adepressed state. The motion, indicated by direction arrow D2, of thetrigger body 6 has been arrested or ceased by the front edge 15A of thearm 50. Optionally, the arm 50 comprises a cushion member 56 forsoftening the impact between the trigger body 6 and the triggeradjustment system 20.

In this embodiment the thread for receiving the control screw 24 is cutinto the arm 50 of the trigger adjustment system 20. In otherembodiments it would be possible to use a threaded insert in the arm 50.

Preferably, the position of the left trigger 6 would be adjusted by useof a specified tool that would be provided to turn the control screws24.

One advantage of the present invention is that it allows adjustments tobe made to the trigger response; such adjustment could be customised tosuit the nature of the video game that is in use at the time ofoperation and/or the skill of the operator. For example, in combat stylegames involving a shooting function it is often the case that thetrigger needs to be depressed by a certain amount before any command isprompted. The control screw 24 can be adjusted so that the command isprompted within a desired amount of depression of the trigger body 6.This adjustment can be made by using the required tool (for example anAllen key, or hex or star driver, cross head or flat head screwdriver,spanner or wrench) to turn the control screw 24 thereby driving it intoor out of the arm 50 by virtue of the threaded insert or screw threadlocated therewithin.

After reaching or passing the command initiation point C_(I) no furthercommands are initiated by further movement of the trigger body 6. Thewidth of the arm 50 controls the degree of trigger body depressionbeyond the command initiation point C_(I). The arm 50 restricts theamount of travel available to the trigger body 6. The arm 50 impedes themovement of the trigger body 6, since the rear edge 17 of the triggerbody 6 strikes the front edge 15A of the arm 50 or cushion member 56when present.

Such an adjustment to the range of motion of the trigger body 6 woulddirectly relate to the majority of combat style games or other varietiesof firing operations in video games.

The present invention could find application in a variety of other videogame genres but for the simplicity of this disclosure reference is madeto combat style games.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it, minimises theamount of motion an operator's finger must travel, therefore minimisingthe recovery time after a trigger initiation command has been made,allowing the operator to commence the command prompt again and againmore rapidly, or to operate different commands quicker. As the movementthat is required to operate commands by depressing the trigger body isreduced, the risks of any related repetitive strain injury acquired dueto the repeated movement of the finger when operating the triggerfunction may be greatly reduced.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the cover portion 10comprises an access device in the form of an aperture 22 or through holewhich passes through the cover portion. The aperture 22 is configuredsuch that it aligns with the control screw 24. In this way the operatorcan insert a tool through the aperture 22 and engage the control screw24 to adjust the range of movement of the trigger body without the needto remove the cover portion 10. In other embodiments the cover portion10 clips onto the base chassis member 14 by mechanical clips integrallyformed therewith, the clips having a barb at one end to engage with areceiver. The cover portion 10 may be detached to adjust the controlscrew 24 or to remove trigger adjustment system 20 to restore the fullrange of motion of the trigger body 6.

It will be recognized that as used herein, directional references suchas “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”,“upper” and “lower” do not necessarily limit the respective features tosuch orientation, but may merely serve to distinguish these featuresfrom one another.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur tothose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. An apparatus for providing a user input to acomputer program for controlling the computer program, the apparatuscomprising an outer case, at least one depressible trigger, and amechanism for adjustment of a range of motion of the at least onedepressible trigger, the mechanism being disposed within an internalvolume defined by the outer case of the apparatus.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein the mechanism for adjustment of the range of motion ofthe at least one depressible trigger is manually adjustable by a user toadjust the range of motion of the at least one depressible trigger froma first range of motion to a second range of motion.
 16. The apparatusof claim 15, wherein the mechanism for adjustment of the range of motionis manually adjustable via an aperture in the outer case.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the range of motion of the at least onedepressible trigger is manually adjustable via an engagement devicecoupled to the mechanism for adjustment.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein the engagement device is coupled to the mechanism for adjustmentthrough an aperture in the outer case such that the mechanism foradjustment may be activated from outside the outer case.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein adjustment of the range of motion of theat least one depressible trigger comprises adjustment of a startingposition of the at least one depressible trigger before depression by auser.
 20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein adjustment of the range ofmotion of the at least one depressible trigger comprises adjustment ofan ending position of the at least one depressible trigger afterdepression by a user.
 21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein thecomputer program is a game program.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21,wherein the mechanism for adjustment of a range of motion of the atleast one depressible trigger is configured to provide a first range ofmotion for the depressible trigger associated with a first game program,and a second range of motion for the depressible trigger associated witha second game program.
 23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein theapparatus comprises a game controller configured to operate with acomputing device.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the computingdevice comprises a video gaming console.
 25. A trigger stop for use inan apparatus for supplying user inputs to a computer program forcontrolling the computer program, wherein the trigger stop is disposedwithin a volume defined by an outer case of the apparatus and thetrigger stop is configured to engage the at least one depressibletrigger of the apparatus to define a range of motion of the depressibletrigger.
 25. The trigger stop of claim 25, wherein a position of thetrigger stop is manually adjustable to define at least a first andsecond range of motion of the depressible trigger.
 26. The trigger stopof claim 25, wherein the trigger stop defines an ending point for therange of motion of the depressible trigger.
 27. The trigger stop ofclaim 25, wherein the computer program is a game program.
 28. Thetrigger stop of claim 25, wherein the apparatus comprises a gamecontroller configured to operate with a computing device.
 29. A gamecontroller for controlling an electronic game, the game controllercomprising: a housing; at least one depressible trigger at leastpartially disposed within the housing; electrical circuitry containedwithin the housing, wherein the at least one depressible trigger is inoperational association with the electrical circuitry such thatdepression of the at least one depressible trigger causes electricaloutputs of the electrical circuitry to control operation of theelectronic game; and a trigger adjustment system disposed within thehousing and in communication with the at least one depressible trigger,the trigger adjustment system configured to adjust a range ofdepressible motion of the at least one depressible trigger.
 30. The gamecontroller of claim 29, wherein the trigger adjustment system ismanually adjustable by a user to adjust the depressible range of motionof the at least one depressible trigger.
 31. The game controller ofclaim 30, wherein the trigger adjustment system is manually adjustablevia an aperture in the housing.
 32. The game controller of claim 29,wherein the trigger adjustment system comprises an engagement deviceconfigured to be manipulated to cause the trigger adjustment system toadjust the range of depressible motion of the at least one depressibletrigger from a first range of motion to a second range of motion.